Richmond's VFL side were locked in a tight battle with Australia's Under-18 AFL Academy for much of the game on Saturday afternoon, before kicking away in the last quarter to win by 49 points at IKON Park.
The AFL Academy started the game on fire with Marlon Neocleous and Ethan Herbert kicking goals in the opening minutes, giving their side the perfect start.
After a shaky start to the game by the Tigers, Tom Burton burst through 50 and got them on the board, followed by a goal to Sam Toner who took a nice mark and finished well from 25 metres out on a slight angle.
Josh Pollocks also capitalised on some scintillating ball movement, kicking a goal to push the Tigers' lead out to eight points. Although the AFL Academy gained repeat inside-50s in the last five minutes of the term, they failed to capitalise on the scoreboard and trailed by eight points at quarter-time.
It was a turnover fest to start the second term but neither team could make the other pay until Wil Malady inched the AFL Academy closer, taking a nice mark inside-50 and kicking truly.
After a few minutes of madness, the Tigers put together a nice handball chain as Toner kicked his second, but the AFL Academy responded with a goal, keeping the margin close.
A daring kick into the middle by Aaron Sharkie nearing half-time paid dividends as Olli Hotton sharked the ball fantastically, and got the ball over the top to Tom Ferguson who finished off with a nice goal.
Once again the AFL Academy responded promptly, as Noah Williams kicked a classy goal, before Gabriel Patterson kicked a checkside snap, with it floating through as the half-time siren sounded, giving the Academy the lead at the main break.
The game was played at frantic speed, with the Tigers needing to slow the ball down and set up well behind it in the second half.
Out of the break, Toner gave Richmond the perfect start to the second half, kicking a miraculous goal over his head whilst being tackled - his third of the day. Harry Scott also kicked a classy goal but Koby LeCras answered back, giving the AFL Academy the lead nearing three-quarter time.
In a game of momentum swings, a late goal to Noah Roberts-Thomson ensured the Tigers took the lead back at three-quarter time, up by five points.
With a slender advantage, the Tigers were red-hot to start the final term as key forward Dan Lowther kicked three goals in the first five minutes of the quarter, pushing the margin out to a game-high 23 points.
Richmond continued to run over the top of their opposition as Toner found small forward Mohammed Yassine all alone in the goal square, before he made it back-to-back goals soon afterwards.
The Tigers dominated clearances and scored heavily from centre bounce in the last term as Sam Cumming, James Milner and Ry Cantwell kicked late majors to help the Tigers run out 49-point winners.
Cumming continued his comeback from injury in style, amassing 30 disposals, five inside-50s, five marks and a goal in a best on ground performance. Hotton (24 disposals, six inside-50s), Scott (24 disposals, five clearances) and Toner (19 disposals, 11 marks, three goals) also put together big games in the win for Richmond.
Zane Peucker (ankle) and Luke Trainor (knee) left the game in the first half and did not return.
Richmond 3.3 5.6 8.9 16.11 (107)
AFL Academy 2.1 6.3 8.4 9.4 (58)
Goalkickers: Toner 3, Lowther 3, Yassine 2, Burton, Cantwell, Cumming, Ferguson, Milner, Pollocks, Roberts-Thomson, Scott
